Anti-Armenian hysteria continues to expand in Azerbaijan in connection with the publication of the novel written by writer Akram Aylisli “Stone Dreams” which tells of the massacres of Armenians in Nakhijevan in the early 20th century and in Baku at the end of the century. Azerbaijani writer and winner of state awards was accused of “sympathy for the Armenians”. Pro-governmental youth crowded in front of his house. They burnt his portraits and shouted anti-Armenian slogans.

Website Aznews.az held a survey with the Azerbaijani literary critics and public figures. It turned out that most of them had not have even read the book. Those who had read it refused to comment on it. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani poet Musa Yagub believes that dark clouds are looming over Aylilsi head. “I think it is an intentional organized campaign against Akram. Something is being planned against him”, said Musa Yagub.

Executive secretary of the ruling party “Yeni Azerbaijan” Siyavush Novruzov said in his turn that the “Akram Aylisli’s biggest dream is to become an ambassador to Armenia,” Azxeber.com says. “Probably, he also wants to win a Nobel Prize, just like Orhan Pamuk who recognized the Armenian Genocide," said Siyavush Novruzov and reminded that it was Zia Buniyatov that had expressed assumptions about Aylisli’s Armenian origin as the latter was born in Nakhijevan, in a village populated by Armenians. "Now, this fact was confirmed," said the functionary of the ruling party.

“Is it you who should serve an example for the young people, you unscrupulous and dishonest person!” young Azerbaijani poet Ahmed Shaheed said about Akram Aylisli, the Strategiya.az writes.

Azerbaijani MP, poet Musa Guliyev also accused Aylisli in habing an Armenian origin. In an interview with the Modern.az, Musa Guliyev noted that by this novel Aylisli gave another reason to Armenians to claim that they cannot live side by side with barbarous Azerbaijanis. “In the introduction he writes that the book is devoted to his “compatriots” and it is not by chance. This means that he is about Armenians in Agulis,” Musa Guliyev stated.

Meanwhile, Asim Mollazade, Azerbaijani MP, found a “Russian trace” in this incident. As Ann.az reports Mollazade called the novel “a political scandalous trick”, he said that all the events described in the novel are pure inventions, and the novel itself is an order from Russia aimed at undermining the public consolidation in Azerbaijan.

Akram Aylisli in an interview given to Kulis.az stated that in 1988, when the first version of his novel about Agulis was published, he warned that they should not start a fight against the Armenians, as they may lose it. “And what did we gain in the result of the war? I was factually right,” he noted. The Azerbaijani writer also drew attention to the impossibility of holding a dialogue with the Armenians of Karabakh due to the hostile propaganda against them.

“We will have another variant if no Armenian will be left there. But it is impossible. As for Agulis, there really occurred a massacre in that village in 1919. This is a history, a fact. Any aged resident of Agulis can attest it, because they saw it with their own eyes. My uncle, my mother, my grandmother saw this. As for the publication of the updated version of novel, it is my protest against the current politics. It is not directed against the people. Tomorrow we will have to make it up with the Armenians. We are doomed to it.In connection with the events in Sumgait, we must bravely talk about every fact of injustice and call a spade a spade. If not the writer then the people of Azerbaijan will have to do it. The novel was aimed at showing repentance for our deeds,” the Azerbaijani writer stated.Source: Panorama.am

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: Another anti-Armenian hysteria has
occurred in Azerbaijan. It is addressed against Azerbaijani People's
writer Akram Aylisli. As reports Armenpress, referring to haqqin.az,
a pro-government youth group held a rally in front of the house
of famous writer Akram Aylisli. About 30 people protested against
Aylisli's book "Stone Dreams", yelling "Shame on Akram Aylisli! ","
Akram Aylisli - Armenian".

In "Stone Dreams", Akram Aylisli makes positive statements about
Armenians, which caused criticism against him by pro-government
media and activists. According to the ideology of the ruling regime,
it was equal to a betrayal of national interests.

Police arrived by the end of the action, but did not intervene. When
the young people stopped screaming, the police said that it was time
for them to leave. At the end of the campaign, young people burned
portraits of the writer.

16:44 02/02/2013 » Society ‘‘The New York Times’’: In Baku, protestors held a mock funeral of a book about massacre of Armenians in Azerbaijan

A novella by an Azeri author that portrays ethnic Armenians sympathetically has provoked an uproar in Azerbaijan, with Azeri lawmakers denouncing the work and protesters burning the author’s portrait outside his house, the New York Times reports.

The novella, “Stone Dreams,” was published in mid-December by Ekrem Eylisli, a former lawmaker, but condemnation grew strident only over the last week, after mainstream news outlets began reporting on and discussing it. “On Thursday, a crowd of several dozen people gathered around Mr. Eylisli’s house and burned his portrait. At a session of Azerbaijan’s Parliament on Friday, lawmakers attacked the novel, with one recommending that Mr. Eylisli be stripped of his citizenship and urging him to move to Armenia,” the writer says.

Another lawmaker, Melahet Ibrahimqizi, said, “He insulted not only Azerbaijanis, but the whole Turkish nation,” a reference to passages in the book that discuss historical Turkish violence toward Armenians.

As the article writes, Mr. Eylisli, 75, said he knew there might be an uproar over his book, which he finished in 2007. He said he decided to publish it last year in a relatively obscure Russian-language journal, Friendship of Peoples, because Russian-language speakers tend to be better educated and more progressive.

“Armenians are not enemies for me,” he said in an interview. “How can they be? I am a writer living in the 21st century. A solution to Nagorno-Karabakh is being delayed, and hostility is growing between the two nations. I want to contribute to a peaceful solution.”

As Mr. Eylisli added that he was shocked by the ferocity of the reaction.

The American paper writes that on Friday, protesters placed a copy of the journal containing “Stone Dreams” in a coffin and held a mock funeral at a monument in honor of Azeris who were killed in the war. “Via social media, young people discussed passages in the book that they found particularly distasteful, like a description of the young hero’s impulse to convert to Christianity and “ask God to forgive Muslims for what they did to the Armenians,” the article says.

Qan Turali, 28, a popular novelist, said he saw the book’s artistic merit but believed that Mr. Eylisli had chosen the wrong time to publish a book portraying Armenians in a positive light. “He is a great writer, the novel is good, but the time is not right,” he said. “Azeri people still feel pain and are aggressive. Instead of increasing tolerance toward Armenians, the writer caused more hatred,” he said.

Another writer, Oktay Hajimusali, 32, was blunter, saying that it is “nonsense to promote peace with Armenians.”Source: Panorama.am

19:22 04/02/2013 » Society ‘‘Turan’’:Professor of University in Azerbaijan tells students how he would strangle even a small Armenian child

Lecturer at the university in Azerbaijan described to his students with great rapture for several times and in bright colors how he would with his bare hands without regret strangle even a small Armenian child, recalls the author of the article in the site of Azerbaijani information agency Turan.

The abovementioned professor was lecturing the theory of radio journalism and simultaneously was working on “AZTV radio.” At the beginning of each lecture, the professor asked the students which stories were the most important for Azerbaijan that week. “God forbid if someone mentioned any crucial thing about the authorities, the red eyes would turn purple, and the veins would stand out now not only on his nose, but all over the face and neck. This professor had one “iron argument” for all criticisms “how can you criticize our President, when we have such a problem for the whole country in the face of Armenians, you should focus on this,” the article reads.

The author notes that today even the laziest person in Azerbaijan reads “Stone Dreams” written by Ekrem Eylisli. “Though, it’s wrong to say it in that way. Even the laziest people discuss and condemn the “Stone Dreams”. It’s from the series like “I have not read Pasternak, but I condemn him,” the article says.

Discussion of the book reached the Azerbaijani Parliament. “Members of the Parliament apparently discussed all the problems in the country, and the only issue left to discuss was the genetic code of Ekrem Eylisli. Earlier, the Azerbaijani “patriots” staged a protest under the windows of Eylisli’s apartment,” the author says.

“Both the activists and the MPs unanimously called Eylisli an Armenian, anti-Azerbaijani element, etc. protesting against the book which allegedly is about Armenians and Azerbaijanis,” the article reads.

The author notes that, the agenda of the social protests in the regions of Azerbaijan dramatically changed into verbal lynching of Eylisli and sophisticated discussions about his relations with the Armenians. “Turning the subject over the Armenians, as soon as things get tough, is not a new policy for our government. For example, only a few days ago pro-governmental TV channels, while discussing the famous accusatory investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, told that her mother was Armenian. They touch Armenian subject at every trifle so that citizens screamed, steamed, get annoyed with the Armenians,” the author writes.

“It's amazing how the lessons of history of other people and our own do not teach us anything. How long can we blame the Armenians and like a child with a new toy carry the idea that we have suffered, that they have tortured us in the past and what a pain it is for our people (and please do not bring an example of an analogy of the Armenian genocide, now I am talking about us, not about them), forgetting the fact what Aliyev’s government is doing to us right now, today, every day. Is it not a rather moral than physical humiliation for our people and its destruction?” the author sums up.Source: Panorama.am

18:13 05/02/2013 » Society Azerbaijani intelligentsia demands to burn Eylisli’s works: You have to be immoral to become friends with Armenians

Azerbaijani national writer Ekrem Eylisli, author of the book “Stone dreams” which is about the massacre of Armenians is still being haunted. In Baku, they seriously call on to deprive him of his state awards and citizenship and to deport him from the country. The MPs call on to cut off his ear and the pro-governmental intellectuals suggest burning all the works of the author publicly.

Murad Kohnagala writes in Kulis.az, “Our image as barbarians is forever engraved in the memory of the Armenians. They can never be friend to us. They are our eternal enemies. This feud will end only with the end of the planet. We cannot make friends with the Armenians with the help of such humanistic works like Ekrem’s. It’s also wrong to give Armenians autonomy in Karabakh and allow them to live on these lands. We should occupy the lands by arms and to drive them all out of there. One must be immoral to be friends with the Armenians.”

The so-called Union of Refugees issued a statement in which they suggest to exclude from all the school textbooks the works written by Ekrem Eylisli. “We do not want to bring our children up by the works of Armenian writer,” Modern.az quotes the statement. The statement also says, “Let’s give Eylisli, who is so delighted by the “spiritual values” of his own people, to Armenians. From now on, let everyone call him not Ekrem Eylisli, but Aram Aguletsi.”Source: Panorama.am

AUTHOR OF BOOK ON THE ARMENIAN MASSACRES IN AZERBAIJAN HINTED FORMER LEADER OF COUNTRY

11:25, 4 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The true reasons of the hysteriaagainst the popular Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli and his book onthe Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan have been revealed. Akram Aylislipublicized the book "Stone Dreams" about the Armenian massacres of thepast century in Russian periodical "Druzhba Narodov". In the book theauthor cites the stories told by the witnesses of the brutality ofthe Azerbaijani Turks towards the Armenian population of Azerbaijanin Agulis in 1919 and in Sumgait and Baku in 1988-90.

It turns out that the detailed story of brutality of the Azerbaijanistowards the peaceful Armenian population in Azerbaijan described inthe novel was not the true reason of the hysteria initiated by thelocal authorities against the popular writer, who achieved numerousstate awards. As reports "Armenpress" in this respect Azerbaijanicontact.az states that there is a moment in Akram Aylisli's novel"Stone Dreams", where he hints that "the events in Sumgait could beorganized by the former leader of Azerbaijan, who aimed to damageGorbachev and Perestroyka in general. It was him who rejoiced at thechaos to come to power in Azerbaijan." Among other things the authorof the article noted of the website: "In my opinion this was the verymoment of the novel to determine criticism against the writer."

THE NEW YORK TIMES REFFERED TO THE UPROAR RAISED IN AZARBAJAN ABOUT THE NOVELLA REVEALLING THE MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS

17:35, 4 February, 2013

ARMENPRESS, FERBRUARY 4, YEREVAN: The New York Times reffered to
the uproar raised about the novella written by famous writer Ekrem
Eylisli. As reports Armenpress reffering to The New York Times,
the work tells the story of two Azeri men who try to protect their
Armenian neighbors from ethnic violenc. "It's an incendiary topic in
Azerbaijan. The country still gripped by the war it fought two decades
ago with Armenia. Since the war ended, Azerbaijan has been trying
to regain control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly ethnically
Armenian enclave within its borders, and secure the return of Azeris
who were forced from their homes," says the paper.

The novella, "Stone Dreams," was published in mid-December by Ekrem
Eylisli, a former lawmaker, but condemnation grew strident only
over the last week, after mainstream news outlets began reporting
on and discussing it. Another lawmaker, Melahet Ibrahimqizi, said,
"He insulted not only Azerbaijanis, but the whole Turkish nation,"
a reference to passages in the book that discuss historical Turkish
violence toward Armenians.

"Armenians are not enemies for me," he said in an interview. "How
can they be? I am a writer living in the 21st century. A solution to
Nagorno-Karabakh is being delayed, and hostility is growing between
the two nations. I want to contribute to a peaceful solution."

He added that he was shocked by the ferocity of the reaction. "I did
not say anything insulting, I did not betray my country," he said. "I
describe how an Azerbaijani helps an Armenian. What is bad about this?"

Qan Turali, a popular novelist, said he saw the book's artistic merit
but believed that Mr. Eylisli had chosen the wrong time to publish
a book portraying Armenians in a positive light.

13:05 06/02/2013 » Society Wife and son of Ekrem Eylisli, who wrote a book about massacre of Armenians in Azerbaijan, are dismissed from their jobs

Son of Azerbaijani national writer Ekrem Eylisli, the author of the book “Stone Dreams” which is about the massacres of the Armenians in Azerbaijan, was dismissed today. Eylisli confirmed the information about dismissing his son from his position. Besides, the writer stated that the issue of dismissing his wife, Galina Alexandrovna, is being discussed. The latter is the director of Central Library, the Azerbaijani news site Haqqin.az reports.

“Information was received from reliable sources that the son of Azerbaijani national writer Ekrem Eylisli was dismissed today from his position in the Customs Committee,” the Haqqin.az reported earlier.

According to the site, he was the Chief of the Main Department for Financial Tariffs and Currency Control of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Republic and Currency Control of the State Customs Committee and was titles as Lieutenant-Colonel. In addition, as the site notes, the writer had to leave his country cottage, provided by the state.

Ekrem Eylisli is national writer and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan “Istiglal” (2002) and the order of “Shokhrat” for his outstanding merits in the literature of Azerbaijan. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine “Friendship of Nations” was published his novel titled “Stone Dreams” in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku in 1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks positively about the Armenian people and their culture.

After the publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally next his home, his issue was discussed in the parliament of Azerbaijan, MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of citizenship and deport from Azerbaijan. Many people “blamed” Eylisli in his Armenian origin, etc.Source: Panorama.am

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on Thursday to deprive Akram Aylisli’s personal pension of the President of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani information agency “Trend” reports.

As Ilham Aliyev’s decree said, the decision was accepted “taking into consideration numerous public appeals”. The decree of Azerbaijani President says that the writer has “deliberately distorted the history of Azerbaijan in his work full of slander.”By another presidential order Ekrem Eylisli is deprived of the honorary title of the “National Writer.” Eylisli is accused of “abusing the high confidence of the people towards him, distorting the realities connected with the history of Azerbaijan in a way which is inappropriate to Azerbaijani writer.”

Eylisli himself, commenting on the decision of the President of Azerbaijan told the “Turan” news agency saying: “I am ssorry for such decisions that are being taken in the State the Constitution of which guarantees freedom of speech. I have no wish to talk about it anymore.”

Ekrem Eylisli is national writer and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan “Istiglal” (2002) and the order of “Shokhrat” for his outstanding merits in the literature of Azerbaijan. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine “Friendship of Nations” was published his novel titled “Stone Dreams” in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku in 1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks positively about the Armenian people and their culture.

After the publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally next his home, his issue was discussed in the parliament of Azerbaijan, MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of citizenship and deport from Azerbaijan. Many people “blamed” Eylisli in his Armenian origin, etc.Source: Panorama.am

THE FAMILY OF THE AZERBAIJANI WRITER IS SUBJECTED TO PRESSURE AND ARBITRARINESS

Wed, 02/06/2013 - 17:56

"The publications in the mass media that I have left the country
or plan to do so, is a provocation and a fairy tale. I am not going
to do that"-the famous Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli said in the
interview to the "Turan" agency.

At the same time he confirmed the information that his wife and son
were fired from work.

The son of the writer is a coronel-general of the tax service, and
has been serving in the position of the head in one of the financial
department of state tax servicefor the last 12 years.

And his wife for many years was the director of the Nazim Hikmet
library in the Sabailian region of Baku.

"This everything is being done to put a pressure on me. This is a
revenge for my "Stone dreams" novel"-said the writer.

"Stone Dreams" is the second part of the trilogy published by him. The
first part called "Yemen" was published back in 1990. The third part
of the trilogy "The Huge Plug" is not published yet. "I disseminated
30 copies of the manuscript to my literary critic colleagueÕ½ and I'm
waiting for their opinion; I plan to review the work. After that the
book will be published"- said the writer without telling about the
content of the book.

It should be noted that the novel of the writer -"The Stone dream"-
caused a stir in Azerbaijan and the writer is accused of being
pro-Armenian, anti-Azerbaijaniposition. The book represents
the thoughts and reflections of Baku intellectuals about the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and relations between the two nations.

11:28 08/02/2013 » Society Ekrem Eylisli urges foreign diplomats to read the book for which he is subjected to harassment by Azerbaijani authorities

Deprived of personal pension of the President of Azerbaijan and the honorary title of “National Writer” the Azerbaijani writer, author of the novel “Stone Dreams” Ekrem Eylisly appealed to foreign diplomatic missions in that country with a call to read his work because of which he is being subjected to harassment by the authorities of the country, Azerbaijani news agency “Turan” reports.

“For more than two weeks, the subsidiary media of Azerbaijani authorities hold a moral terror campaign against me because of my novel “Stone Dreams”. Uncoordinated mass actions are being held in front of my house, my books are being burnt, an unjust pressure is being put on my family members,” Eylisli’s statement reads.

According to Eylisli this is an unprecedented event in the social life of Azerbaijan during the last 100 years and he has no doubt that it is being carried out by the authorities. “I consider this as an unprecedented example of intolerance towards freedom of speech and expression by the power-holding structures,” Eylisli notes.

In this connection, the writer refers to the foreign diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan – Embassies of U.S., UK, Germany, France, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium and other countries, as well as to the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe and asks to read his novel and to express their attitude towards it.

Ekrem Eylisli is national writer (since 1998) and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan “Istiglal” (2002) and the order of “Shokhrat” for his outstanding merits in Azerbaijani literature. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine “Friendship of Nations” was published his novel titled “Stone Dreams” in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku in 1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks positively about the Armenian people and their culture.

After the publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally next his home, his issue was discussed in the parliament of Azerbaijan, MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of citizenship and deport from Azerbaijan. Many people “blamed” Eylisli in his Armenian origin, etc.Source: Panorama.am

"For more than two weeks, the media controlled by Azerbaijani
authorities has led a campaign of moral terror against me because of my
novel 'Stone Dreams'. All this is taking place on a scenario possible
only in 1930s. People having no idea of my novel speak against me as
they were told to do that. I was born in 1937 and I am well aware
what was happening then. It seems to me that something similar is
happening to me now", Azerbaijani writer and author of the novel
"Stone Dreams" Akram Aylisli told Golos Rossii newspaper.

President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to deprive writer Akram Aylisli
of the title "People's Writer" and personal pension of the President
of the Azerbaijan Republic, overnight. The authorities of Azerbaijan
with participation of the TV Channels, parliament and politicians have
launched a campaign of harassment against the writer Akram Aylisli
for his novel "Stone Dreams." The novel by Aylisli caused a negative
reaction, and caused a non-ethical campaign of pressure on the writer
and his family.

The writer says that his novel aims to tell everyone that Armenians
and Azerbaijanis can co-exist. "They should read my novel to
understand that there is nothing to punish me for. I am suffering
for my people. They say I have allegedly introduced my people as
aggressive and bellicose. But it is an absurd. I did everything on the
opposite. Azerbaijanis want peace. The novel starts with a situation
when an Azerbaijani tries to save an old Armenian from being killed.

How can such a novel insult and humiliate the Azerbaijan people?"

Aylisli told the newspaper.

"Then follows a chain of thoughts about what happened before and how
we could avoid that. The novel tells about nothing except an emotional
and vulnerable man that found himself in a very hard situation. But
he had strong heart and strong belief and fought for human ideals.

Persecution against a writer for such novel is not normal. Our ordinary
citizens say that we can live together with Armenians. While official
authorities are stirring up hatred. This novel is against official
policy that organizes persecutions against my peaceful creative ideas
aimed at rapprochement of our peoples. They do not do what they should
do," the Azerbaijani writer said.

PRESIDENT OF TOLERANT AZERBAIJAN DEPRIVES AKRAM AYLISLI OF THE TITLE "PEOPLE'S WRITER"

ARMINFO
Friday, February 8, 12:40

Tolerant Azerbaijan's president-for-life Ilham Aliyev has signed an
order to deprive writer Akram Aylisli of the title "People's Writer"
and personal pension of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.

The President's instruction noted that "Aylisli abused the high
confidence rendered him in the years of independence, and claims that
Aylisli distorted in his work the realities of Azerbaijan history in
a form not befitting an Azerbaijani writer."

According to the President's instruction, "Aylisli tried to build
an anti-humanist image of the Azerbaijani people, wrongly accused
him of action against human values, falsified the nature of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, blackened the distant and recent history
of Azerbaijan, and offended the dignity of one million Azerbaijanis
expelled from their native lands as a result of the conflict."

The authorities of Azerbaijan with participation of the TV Channels,
parliament and politicians have launched a campaign of harassment
against the writer Akram Aylisli for his novel "Stone Dreams."

The novel by Aylisli caused a negative reaction, and caused a
non-ethical campaign of pressure on the writer and his family. His
wife and son were dismissed from their positions. Even the State
Dramatic Theater has refused to stage Aylisli's novel.

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS: Mass persecutions initiated by the
Azerbaijani authorities against Azerbaijani writer, novelist, author of
"Stone Dreams" novel on the massacre of the Armenians in Azerbaijan,
are seeking to politicize the literature.

"The country and environment the author is living and working in is
too unfavorable for creating suchlike literature pieces" the head of
Writers' Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan told Armenpress. According to
Ananyan the patriotic writer succeeded to express two decades dating
anguish in his book.

"Stone Dreams" novel is a call targeted to humanity, tolerance and
harmony. What happened is a challenge against the regional and balanced
development of the world. The step by Azerbaijani authorities should
be condemned" the head of Writers' Union of Armenia noted. In his
words Azerbaijani authorities' intolerance is a political persecution.

Among other things Levon Ananyan noted: "Reportedly this is not the
first time the Azerbaijani authorities are manifesting intolerance
against the writers."

In his latest novel, Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli depictsAzerbaijani and Armenian friendship, yet due to the content he isthe target of attacks

'Those, who discuss my identity that I have no Armenian origin,'says Azerbaijani novelist Akram Aylisli as for attackers against hisidentity because of his novel.

Vercihan Zifliogluvercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr

Famed Azerbaijani novelist Akram Aylisli has become the target ofattacks both from the state and the public after the release of hislatest novel, "Stone Dreams," which depicts Azerbaijani-Armenianfriendship through its protagonists. A symbolic DNA test will be madetoday in Baku to prove if Aylisli is Armenian or not.

A group of angry people gathered in front of the 76-year-old writer'shouse, painted a cross on Aylisli's photos and burned them, shoutingslogans such as, "Traitor, shame on you!"

Aylisli was the recipient of many national and international awards,and was also declared "Azerbaijani National Writer" in 1987, butPresident Ä°lham Aliyev stripped him of all his national honorsyesterday -- a first in the Caspian country's history. Aylisli alsonow faces denaturalization.

Speaking to Hurriyet Daily News through e-mail regarding the events,Aylisli said that he saw similar attacks in the Soviet era. "But Ihave never seen anything like this. All these things are one of theworst forms of the Soviet Union ideology. They are carrying out aspiritual terror campaign against me. They even attack my family."

"Those, who discuss my identity know that I have no Armenian origin,"Aylisli said of the DNA test. "I once again say that this is aspiritual terror campaign. Nobody can speak about my spirituality andmorals." When asked about human rights and freedom of expression inAzerbaijan, he said, "In a country where a famous artist gets intothat much trouble, it doesn't make sense to speak about human rights.

They try to silence people of opposing views and enjoy it whiledoing it."

"The main goal of the novel is to call for Armenians and Turks tolive together," Aylisli said, adding that his novels had nothing todo with politics.

'A route for peace should be sought'

According to Aylisli, the novel begins with an incident. "Ten to 15young Azerbaijanis exiled from Armenia reach Azerbaijan's capital,Baku, where they encounter an old Armenian man, take of his clothesand beat and throw him into a pool. A famous Azerbaijani artist seesthe incident and tries to help the old man. The young Azerbaijanimen also start to beat him up. The incidents after this event takeplace in the inner world of the artist," he said.

The book explores the artist's village, where he grew up, his childhoodand personal life.

The novel takes place in 1919 and discusses the Armenian massacre andincidents of 1915 and the resultant suffering, Aylisli said, addingthat once upon a time Azerbaijanis and Armenians lived happily andin peace, and that they should endeavor to live in peace again.

According to Aylisli, the hatred should end between the two nationsand the Montenegro agreements can also be solved peacefully.

"The representatives should search for ways to make the two nationslive in harmony. My book is just a message. It is a message from awriter and an intellectual," Aylisli said.

Born in1937 in an Azerbaijani village in Ordubad's Yukhari, Aylisliwent on to write novels that have been translated into a varietyof languages and published in several countries. In the meantime,Aylisli's son Necef Naibov, who is working for the Ministry of Customs,and his library director wife Galina Aleksandrovna, were fired fromtheir jobs. A summer house, which was gifted to the famous writer bythe state, was also taken from him.

15:33 12/02/2013 » Society ‘‘Kultura.az’’: Have you ever wondered why they think Azerbaijanis are like people from Stone Age?

“Ekrem Eylisli needs to run away,” wrote Lala Ismailzade on “Kultura.az” site in the article about baiting the author of the novel “Stone Dreams”. She wonders whether it is possible for the crowd living in authoritarian regime be tolerant with dissenting opinions.

“Today, the school principals hold meetings as if they are one, propagating Ekrem Eylisli’s as “traitor of the fatherland.” They say that such “meetings of the Bureau" used to took place under Stalin regime as well,” the author writes, and notes that one of the Azerbaijani TV channels called on taking away Eyylisli’s all property and give to immigrants, apparently hoping to solve the problem of the poor Azerbaijanis by the property of the writer.

According to the author, Azerbaijan has two ways. First is to destroy all dissent writers who criticized the Azerbaijani society, and obliterate any positive references about the Armenians. “What did Sabir write about the Azerbaijani? I fear whenever I see a Muslim. You see, he's not afraid of Armenian but a Muslim. After his death Armenians collected money for publication of his poems and helped,” notes the author and adds that by this logic, it is necessary to erase from the history of Azerbaijan Mirza Fatali Akhundov as well, because one of the characters in his comedy "Haji Gara" who is a lazybones recognizes that he is not Armenian to work all day with a hack in his hands.

Akhundzadeh in this play describes the Azerbaijanis as troublesome people and thieves. He describes Ohan, Sargis and other Armenians as law-abiding and virtuous people. “And what would they suggest? To put the works of Akhundzadeh in a coffin and to bury it?,” the author says.

“The second way is to understand why, in spite of our economic strength, we are not respect in the world? Have you ever thought why the Azerbaijanis are considered people from the Stone Age? The generation that is presents us in the world culture is dying out, it's not going to live forever. And in their place a generation of RABIS music is coming, with a hatchet in their hands, and famed by the trade of potatoes and onions. What should we do? Should we rally around the ax and destroy our cultural monuments, or should we respect freedom of speech and try to present a civilized society?” the author says.Source: Panorama.am

Akram Aylisli has already become our Ohran Pamuk, Arif Yunusov, Head
of the Department for Conflicts and Migration, peace and Democracy
Institute (Baku), said in an interview with ArmInfo, when commenting
on persecutions against Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli.

To recall, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to deprive writer
Akram Aylisli of the title "People's Writer" and personal pension of
the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, overnight. The authorities
of Azerbaijan with participation of the TV Channels, parliament and
politicians have launched a campaign of harassment against the writer
Akram Aylisli for his novel "Stone Dreams." The novel by Aylisli
caused a negative reaction, and caused a non-ethical campaign of
pressure on the writer and his family.

"I know Aylisli personally, and judging by his words he wrote that
novel yet in 90s, but he had been constantly working on it changing
it, adding or removing something. He completed the work yet in 2006,
but did not publish. He was recently asked from Moscow to submit
something for publishing, as they had not published his works for a
long time already. So, Akram quickly translated the novel and sent it
to Moscow. He admits that he did not wait such a hot response. As a
writer he supposed that some people would disagree with him and there
may be hot debates, but not beyond the bounds of decency. What has
happened in our country was really unexpected for him," Yunusov said.

As regards the talks that Aylisli allegedly claims the Nobel Prize and
laurels of Ohran Pamuk, Yunusov called them fiction. "He wrote what
he considered necessary for him. Yet in 90s he talked to me on that
topic. So, there was nothing new for me and I was ready to everything
we can observe in Azerbaijan now," the Azerbaijani expert said. Orhan
Pamuk is a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic and recipient of
the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is widely known for his civil
position on the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, which does not
coincide with the official position of the Turkish authorities.

An Azerbaijani opposition party has offered money for the ear of arespected writer who recently faced a sharp criticism for remarksabout the Azerbaijani-Armenians in one of his novels.

The leaders of the Modern Musavat party have promised a bonus of10,000 Manats (approx. $13,000) for anyone who will agree to cut theear of Akram Aylisli.

"We held discussions last week and decided to offer a bonus for havingAylisli's ear cut," the head of the party, Hafiz Hajiev, has said,according to the Azerbaijani news agency Turan.

He described Aylisli's novel, Stone Dreams, as an insult to theAzerbaijani nation.

"Whatever punishment is awarded to the author, it will be too little.

It is necessary to cut his ear. Members of the party's youth winghave been instructed to carry this decision into practice. The onewho executes the decision will get 10,000 Manats," Hajiev was quotedas saying.

But Contact.az reports that the Azerbaijani law enforcers have notyet responded to the call.

Aylisli novel, published in 2012, was dedicated to the Armenians ofSoviet Azerbaijan. "I dedicate this to the memory of my compatriotswho left behind a big grief," the writer said in the preface.

The main heroes are the Azerbaijanis of Agulis (a village in thesouth of Nakhicevan), who tried to help Armenians during the late1980's and early 1990's pogrom of Sumgait and Baku.

The novel caused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to strip Aylisliof the People's Writer title and nominal pension. His son and wifewere sacked from office weeks before.

Azerbaijani writers had earlier asked the president to revoke Aylisli'scitizenship and send him to Armenia.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Azerbaijan government to endits campaign of intimidation against Akram Aylisli, who has writtena controversial book regarding relations between Armenians andAzerbaijanis in Azerbaijan.

Aylisli, a member of the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan, is theauthor of Stone Dreams. The novel includes a account of violence byethnic Azeris against Armenians during the 1920s, and at the end ofthe Soviet era, when the two countries engaged in armed conflict.